Exploring the link between Sustainable Masculinity and Environmental Sustainability

When I coined the phrase sustainable masculinity I had come to the realisation that the old male mindset was a dominator model and as such was a possible root cause of our environmental and social problems.

I came across a statement by Fred Matser, director of a Dutch NGO. Matser said, ” “The chaos in the environment is a reflection of the disorder in our (humans) minds and hearts (invironment).”

Human destruction of nature is a violence which not only kills innocent species which do not have a voice, but ends up harming ourselves. The rape of and the war against nature harms us because nature is an extension of ourselves. The trees are an extension of our lungs for example.

The old Darwinian mindset combined with the male programming caused us to disconnect from nature, bringing us close to destruction; it may still happen if we don’t change course.

Today environmental scientists are re-learning the ancient wisdom that humans are just a part in a complex web of life. The water, soil, air and all the organisms that help sustain that web are interdependent.

Simply put every one is connected to everything which is connected to everyone and everything.

Messing with or removing any part of the web of life impacts all the other parts.

Unfortunately the old male mindset is still very much alive and needs to be identified and changed for the benefit of all humans and all life on the planet.

The old warrior mindset in recent times is illustrated by George Bush, who genuinely sees himself as the protector against evil. This old mindset requires a war against evil, an external enemy! Bush conveniently identified the axis of evil as ‘over there’ and plunged the world into war.
He refused to acknowledge global warming because saving the environment is “sissies” work according to that mindset.

However positive change is possible in men and is happening as we speak. Because I’ve witnessed the great changes among men who have become more conscious I know it to be possible on a larger scale and that is what is needed now.

In an atmosphere of no blame the work of becoming more conscious, requires men and boys to find the authentic self under the layers of programming we have received as males. The programming is not us!

Even in prisons and youth detention centres, when I have witnessed this process of males becoming authentic, the person revealed when the masks are dropped, is inevitably a good person more in touch with their humanity.

As men become conscious a valuable part of our growth work identifying the “shadow” or evil side of ourselves so it is no longer unconscious.

As integrated men we have harmonious relationships with ourselves, loved ones and with nature. We take ownership to our shadows and help others do the same then we no longer project evil onto an external target like Bush and his ilk.

As we adopt the partnership societal model we will realise that war, any war, the war against evil, against nature, youth crime, poverty or cancer are all lost battles; they come from an old male mindset no longer appropriate.

Thus a sustainable form of masculinity is foundational to the New Male Paradigm.

Sustainable Masculinity means Environmental Sustainability

When I coined the phrase sustainable masculinity I had come to the realisation that the old male mindset was a dominator model and as such was a possible root cause of our environmental and social problems.

I came across a statement by Fred Matser, director of a Dutch NGO. Matser said, ” “The chaos in the environment is a reflection of the disorder in our (humans) minds and hearts (invironment).”

Human destruction of nature is a violence which not only kills innocent species which do not have a voice, but ends up harming ourselves. The rape of and the war against nature harms us because nature is an extension of ourselves. The trees are an extension of our lungs for example.

The old Darwinian mindset combined with the male programming caused us to disconnect from nature, bringing us close to destruction; it may still happen if we don’t change course.

Today environmental scientists are re-learning the ancient wisdom that humans are just a part in a complex web of life. The water, soil, air and all the organisms that help sustain that web are interdependent.

Simply put every one is connected to everything which is connected to everyone and everything.

Messing with or removing any part of the web of life impacts all the other parts.

Unfortunately the old male mindset is still very much alive and needs to be identified and changed for the benefit of all humans and all life on the planet.

The old warrior mindset in recent times is illustrated by George Bush, who genuinely sees himself as the protector against evil. This old mindset requires a war against evil, an external enemy! Bush conveniently identified the axis of evil as ‘over there’ and plunged the world into war.

He refused to acknowledge global warming because saving the environment is “sissies” work according to that mindset.

However positive change is possible in men and is happening as we speak. Because I’ve witnessed the great changes among men who have become more conscious I know it to be possible on a larger scale and that is what is needed now.

In an atmosphere of no blame the work of becoming more conscious, requires men and boys to find the authentic self under the layers of programming we have received as males. The programming is not us!

Even in prisons and youth detention centres, when I have witnessed this process of males becoming authentic, the person revealed when the masks are dropped, is inevitably a good person more in touch with their humanity.

As men become conscious a valuable part of our growth work identifying the “shadow” or evil side of ourselves so it is no longer unconscious.

As integrated men we have harmonious relationships with ourselves, loved ones and with nature. We take ownership to our shadows and help others do the same then we no longer project evil onto an external target like Bush and his ilk.

As we adopt the partnership societal model we will realise that war, any war, the war against evil, against nature, youth crime, poverty or cancer are all lost battles; they come from an old male mindset no longer appropriate.

Thus a sustainable form of masculinity is foundational to the New Male Paradigm.